What is Sahih al-Bukhari 4724 about?

This hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari (Book of Prophetic Commentary on the Qur'an (Tafseer of the Prophet (pbuh))), narrated by Narrated `Abdullah:, states: "While we were with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) in a cave, Surat "Wal Mursalat" was revealed to him and we received it directly from his mouth as soon as he had received the revelation. Suddenly a snake cam…"

Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Sahih. Sahih hadiths are considered the most authentic grade in hadith classification.

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Sahih al-Bukhari, which contains 7,277 hadiths across 97 books. It is hadith number 4724 in the Book of Prophetic Commentary on the Qur'an (Tafseer of the Prophet (pbuh)).

I searched for a different number — is this the right hadith?

Hadith numbering varies across editions and translations (USC-MSA, Dar as-Salam, Fath al-Bari, and others). If you followed a link citing a different number but landed here, you may have been redirected to the canonical version in our library. If you were looking for a different hadith entirely, use the search bar to find it by text.

‹

#4723

#4724

Sahih al-Bukhari

#4725

›

Sahih al-Bukhari #4724

Prophetic Commentary on the Qur'an (Tafseer of the Prophet (pbuh))

Sahih

The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنِ الأَسْوَدِ، قَالَ قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بَيْنَا نَحْنُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي غَارٍ إِذْ نَزَلَتْ عَلَيْهِ وَالْمُرْسَلاَتِ فَتَلَقَّيْنَاهَا مِنْ فِيهِ وَإِنَّ فَاهُ لَرَطْبٌ بِهَا إِذْ خَرَجَتْ حَيَّةٌ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ عَلَيْكُمُ اقْتُلُوهَا ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ فَابْتَدَرْنَاهَا فَسَبَقَتْنَا ـ قَالَ ـ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ وُقِيَتْ شَرَّكُمْ، كَمَا وُقِيتُمْ شَرَّهَا ‏"‏‏.‏

While we were with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) in a cave, Surat "Wal Mursalat" was revealed to him and we received it directly from his mouth as soon as he had received the revelation. Suddenly a snake came out and Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Get at it and kill it!" We ran to kill it but it outstripped us. Allah's Apostle said, "It has escaped your evil, as you too, have escaped its."

Narrated by Narrated `Abdullah:

Context

This hadith describes an incident where the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and his companions were in a cave when the Surah 'Wal Mursalat' was revealed. During this moment, a snake appeared, prompting the Prophet (ﷺ) to instruct his companions to kill it. However, the snake escaped, leading the Prophet (ﷺ) to reflect on the escape of both the snake and themselves from harm, highlighting a theme of divine protection and awareness of one's surroundings.

Modern Application

In today's world, this hadith reminds us of the importance of being vigilant and aware of potential dangers in our environment. Just as the companions were instructed to act decisively, we too should take appropriate actions to protect ourselves and others from harm while being mindful of our surroundings.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Prophetic Experience and Divine Revelation because it illustrates a moment of direct revelation to the Prophet (ﷺ) and his response to an immediate threat.

Prophetic Experience Divine Revelation

Related Ayahs

سُورَةُ النَّمۡلِ

An-Naml (The Ant)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

وَأَلْقِ عَصَاكَ ۚ فَلَمَّا رَءَاهَا تَهْتَزُّ كَأَنَّهَا جَآنٌّۭ وَلَّىٰ مُدْبِرًۭا وَلَمْ يُعَقِّبْ ۚ يَٰمُوسَىٰ لَا تَخَفْ إِنِّى لَا يَخَافُ لَدَىَّ ٱلْمُرْسَلُونَ

And [he was told], "Throw down your staff." But when he saw it writhing as if it were a snake, he turned in flight and did not return. [Allah said], "O Moses, fear not. Indeed, in My presence the messengers do not fear.

سُورَةُ القَصَصِ

Al-Qasas (The Stories)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

وَأَنْ أَلْقِ عَصَاكَ ۖ فَلَمَّا رَءَاهَا تَهْتَزُّ كَأَنَّهَا جَآنٌّۭ وَلَّىٰ مُدْبِرًۭا وَلَمْ يُعَقِّبْ ۚ يَٰمُوسَىٰٓ أَقْبِلْ وَلَا تَخَفْ ۖ إِنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلْءَامِنِينَ

And [he was told], "Throw down your staff." But when he saw it writhing as if it was a snake, he turned in flight and did not return. [Allah said], "O Moses, approach and fear not. Indeed, you are of the secure.

سُورَةُ الحَجِّ

Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍۢ وَلَا نَبِىٍّ إِلَّآ إِذَا تَمَنَّىٰٓ أَلْقَى ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ فِىٓ أُمْنِيَّتِهِۦ فَيَنسَخُ ٱللَّهُ مَا يُلْقِى ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ ثُمَّ يُحْكِمُ ٱللَّهُ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌۭ

And We did not send before you any messenger or prophet except that when he spoke [or recited], Satan threw into it [some misunderstanding]. But Allah abolishes that which Satan throws in; then Allah makes precise His verses. And Allah is Knowing and Wise.

سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ

At-Tawba (The Repentance)

1 ayah

إِلَّا تَنصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ثَانِىَ ٱثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِى ٱلْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَٰحِبِهِۦ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَنَا ۖ فَأَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُۥ عَلَيْهِ وَأَيَّدَهُۥ بِجُنُودٍۢ لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱلسُّفْلَىٰ ۗ وَكَلِمَةُ ٱللَّهِ هِىَ ٱلْعُلْيَا ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

If you do not aid the Prophet - Allah has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of two, when they were in the cave and he said to his companion, "Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us." And Allah sent down his tranquillity upon him and supported him with angels you did not see and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowest, while the word of Allah - that is the highest. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.

سُورَةُ الكَهۡفِ

Al-Kahf (The Cave)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

قَالَ أَرَءَيْتَ إِذْ أَوَيْنَآ إِلَى ٱلصَّخْرَةِ فَإِنِّى نَسِيتُ ٱلْحُوتَ وَمَآ أَنسَىٰنِيهُ إِلَّا ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ أَنْ أَذْكُرَهُۥ ۚ وَٱتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُۥ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ عَجَبًۭا

He said, "Did you see when we retired to the rock? Indeed, I forgot [there] the fish. And none made me forget it except Satan - that I should mention it. And it took its course into the sea amazingly".

Common Words

128 total92 unique25 repeated

ٱلله6x

إذ4x

لا3x

من3x

إلا3x

ٱلشيطن3x

فى3x

عصاك2x

فلما2x

رءاها2x

تهتز2x

كأنها2x

جان2x

ولى2x

مدبرا2x

ولم2x

يعقب2x

يموسى2x

تخف2x

ولا2x

Scroll to explore ayah details

Related Hadiths

About Sahih al-Bukhari

This hadith is #4724 from Sahih al-Bukhari, in the Book of Prophetic Commentary on the Qur'an (Tafseer of the Prophet (pbuh)). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated `Abdullah:.

Browse all Sahih al-Bukhari All Hadith Collections

Sahih al-Bukhari #4724

Context

Modern Application

Topics

Related Ayahs

Common Words

Related Hadiths

About Sahih al-Bukhari

About This Hadith